Cylinder wash-up device



Feb. 5,1946 'T. J. KAUFFELD 2,393,992

I CYLINDERwASH-UP DEVICE Filed Dec. 15, 1942 2 Sheets-Shet 1 Feb. 1946. T. J. KAUFFELD CYLINDER WASH-UP DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 15, 1942 Patented Feb. 5, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Theodore John Kauffeld, Convent, .N; J., assignor .to American .Type Founders, Incorporated,

Elizabeihth, a corporation of New Jersey iApplica'tionDecember 15, 1942, Serial No. 469,097

10 .Claims.

This invention relates *to printing presses or similar impression devices having printing or transfer members which require cleaning, washing, coating, or other treatment, particularly by means of a liquid medium.

The general object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved attachment for machines of this type which embodies means adapted to be brought into wiping or rubbing contact with the form, "plate, or transfer member'to be treated.

A further object of the invention is toprovi'de, in a device of this character, means for supplying liquid to the rubbing means, and means for receiving the spent liquid after use in treating the member. Another object is the provision of means for readily applying the attachment to a printing machine or the like and removing it therefrom.

Although applicable to a wide variety of machinespf the general type referred to, my device is particularly adapted for use in connection withoffset presses, and for purposes of illustration it will 'be so shown and described herein.

In its preferred embodiment the invention contemplates the provision of a rotary absorbent washing or daubing member which is adapted to be supported upon the frame of the machineadjacent the cylinders or other members to be treated, said member being geared to :the driving mechanism of the machine for'rotation, and also being slida-bleat will along the member to be treatedand in contact therewith; Means are also provided for saturating the device with cleaning, coating, or preserving fluid whereby the member uch as a plate or blanket cylinder of an offset press may be washed, cleaned, or coated as desired. Brackets are provided whereby the attachment may "be applied to the press *or other "machine adjacent the cylinder or corresponding element, and in a position whereby the drive gears embodied in the attachment may be disposed in mesh with the gears usually provided on the cylinders of the machine.

As already indicated, the :use of thesdevice which is the subject of the present invention is not strictly limited to cleaning or treating the rollers of offset presses, but it is convenient to describe the constructiomapplication and operation of the device in connection with such machines; As is well known in the printing art, it is necessary to remove the ink from both the plate and blanket cylinders of :an offset press at the end of a run and in some cases during the run. At present this cleaning operation is done by handand the operation represents "quite :a'loss in production as well as exposing the operator to the danger of having his hand drawn in between the cylinders. The presentinvention provides a cleaning unit which is driven from the cylinder being cleaned while'the'press is running at full speed and is adapted to effect this operation safely and efflciently. The device may also be used to apply a protective coating to the plate cylinder when the press 'is to remain idle for any considerable length of time. The printing surface of an offset plate is provided with a :grain which consists of an almost infinite number of fine scratches. This surface is particularly subject to oxidation and must be protected as by the application of a coating of gum rarabic whenever the plate is not in use. It is necessary therefore that this protective coating be removed just before printing is started, and reapplied when the press is again shut down. The applicants device is particularly adapted for the application of this coating of gum arabic to the plate cylinder and also to the removal of this coatin and the cleaning of the cylinders or rollers by the application of suitable solvents.

Other objects and features of novelty will be apparent when the following specification is read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which one embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example.

In'the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of one end of an offset press in which one embodiment of the invention is applied; V

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of Figure l with certain parts of the attachment shown in vertical section; I

Figure MS a view in end elevation -10f the parts shown in .Figure 2; and

Figure A is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Referring-more particularly to the general-view in Figure 1 of the drawings, it will be seen that the press issupported by side :frames .1 0 between which the various cylinders, rollers, and other operative parts of the machine are disposed. Many of the elements of the press are not involved in the disclosure of the present invention, and will not be referred .to-or described herein. It is sufiicient to state that the press is one of a general class of offset printing devices and one skilled in the art will recognize the operative elements thereof from an inspection of the view in Figural. The ink ,lfountai-n may be recognized as the part designated generally by the numeral H and the cylinders and rollers l2, [3, M, 5, and I6 are parts of an inking train'by which the ink'or color medium is transferred from the fountain II and applied as a uniform coating of the proper thickness on the platecylinder 23. Upon the other side of the press, and not shown in the present drawings, are suitable or conventional water distribution rollers. 3 The blanketjcyli'nder is indicated at 22 and'is shown robe mounted in rolling Contact With the plate cylinder 20. The impression cylinder is inv livered by n echanism well'known in the art It is unnecessary to explain that all ofthe;

cylinders and rollers of the press arerotated in ni on fr m the press drive, and the; timing oflthe various elements is ;accurately effected bytsuitable-means. somefof the gearing for synchroniz ing driving: the several parts-is enclosed in the gear :box'2'l'disposedexteriorly Of .one of the side frames ofthe press and the gearswhich are :In thelseveral figures of drawing-'"the device groove in the cylindrical portion of the spool 55 and serves to retain the flange 51 in position to clamp the pile of cloth discs 60 upon the spool. The discs 50 provide a yielding and absorbent brush or dauber member which is adapted to contactthe adjacent cylinder or roller to which the device is applied. The sidewall 5! of the casinglip is cutaway adjacent the roller as indicated at 62 in Fi ure 3' and the brush or dauber member '60 projects through the opening into contact with the cylinder, suchas the plate cylinder to which the device is applied in the illustrated embodiment. The spool 55 and the shaft 7 33 are both slotted to provide a splined conneccarried-by and-serve to. drivethe plate cylinder,

which forms the .principalisubject'of the present I "invention'is indicated generally'fby the reference "character'Aand comprises an elongatedsu'pporting "frame whichextends across the press from one side frame to the other an includes the stationary ,rod or j shaft 3.2 and the rotary shaft 33; Fixedly secured to one end of the shaft -32 is a bracket 34 an'd'similarly secured to the opposite 'end of the rod or shaft 32"is the hollow bracket 35 which also serves as a gear housing.

The rotatable shaft 33 is carried'in bearing 36 atoneiend of the frame and th'e 'spa'ced beari- "mgs 31 and 38 serve a; similar purpose at the other end of the frame in guiding the shaft 33 within the housing bracket 35. v v V H V Eaoh'of the b-racketsf34 and 35 isprovided with preferably rectangular block-like projections 41! V whichare received "within the elongated rectanigula r slots in the frame brackets 42 carried by the side frames l9. 'Stop blocks indicated at M are provided'at the inner ends of the 810e,; to limit the movement of the device toward the operative' parts of the press when it' is applied}.

Latches 65, pivoted to the bracketsi42 as at ifi, are adapted. to swing across the T mouth of, the slots ll into contactwith the pins- 41 to" pre- Vent withdrawal of'the projections lljfrom the slotsl' Another pair of brackets '42, identical in construction, are provided adjacent the blanket cylinder 22. By these means the'attachment is made applicable to different cylinders or rollers on the same press or to corresponding elements of. different presses orother machines having parts to be cleaned; washed, or otherwise treated. fThewashing or treating deviceproper com prises a substantially self-contained carriage whichis inthe form of a substantially cylindrical casinghaving'asidewall 5i and end-wall EZ and a lidor cover 53 at the opposite end thereof, the latter being secured to the casing as by means of the wing nuts' fl. Within the casing 5c there is disposed a spool 55 havi g an integral flange 56 and a removable annular disc 51 providing a similar fiange atits opposite end. A spring washer"or clip 58 is snapped into an annular tion-so'that the spool and the brush 5!! are rotatediby'the' shaft but are free to reciprocate longitudinally thereof. Bearing bushings 65 are disposed betweenthehubs 0f the spool and the wallsof the openings in the end 52 and the cover member 53 of the casing. The casin is provided withears or lugs 66 which embrace-the stationary shaft 32 and serve to prevent rotation of the casing 50..

Withinthehollow housing bracket 35 there are disposed the gears 10 and;1l, the formerbeing freely rotatable uponthe stationary shaft 32 and projecting through an opening in-the wall of the housing 35 adjacent the periphery of the plate cylinder gearlz andin mesh therewith. The other gear H is keyed to therotatable shaft 33 and is in mesh with the gear 10 so as tobe driven thereby. In this'way the brush or dauber'GD is drivenfrom the cylinder gear 12, and due to the interposition of the idler 10, the member reparts containing a passageway 11' which discharges as at 18 intothe interior of the casing upon one sidesof :the brush or dauber member 60. Into the mouth ofthe passageway 11 in the boss-15 there isiintroduced the discharge spout V 8030f a can 8| of a type in general use in printing establishments. The contents'ofthe can may be freely discharged by movement of the nozzle 8!] with its actuating flange '82 toward the'body of the 'can;'or= vice versa/Thusfif the cylinder of the press is'to be cleaned, the can 81 is filled with an ink solvent and the noz'zle 80 introduced into the mouth of the passageway 'I'Land the can tappedor depressed'so as to control the discharge into the brush casing. Uponthe opposite side of the lower portion of thecasing from the inlet opening 19, there is provided a'dischargespout 84 beneath which may be positioneda bottle 85'or other suitable container which is supported by the depending bracket 86 carried by the unit 50. "In order to reciprocate the carriage or casing5ll and its contained and supported elements along the'frame'o'f the attachment A, a hook-like handle 9B is provided which can be grasped by the fingers of the operator and the device thus moved to and fro across the face of the cylinder, while the wiper or dauber 60 rotates in contact therewith. Of course, if the device is to beused to apply a protective solution to the cylinder the can 8| is supplied with a quantity of this liquid instead of the cleaning solution used to remove theink. "l

When not in use the attachment A may be stowed alongside of the pressand supported by means of the brackets 92. As already indicated,

when used to clean the blanket cylinder-22, the

end brackets of the device areappli'ed tothe frame brackets 42. To change or replace the wiper or dauber wheel 60, the bracket 34 is removed by the withdrawal of the set screw 94 and cloth strips may be readily effected by removing the snap ring 58 and the flange from the spool 55.

- Other uses and applications of the device will occur to those skilled in the art and various changes and modifications may be made in the illustrated embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters-Patent is:

1. A device for treating cylinders of offset printing presses or like machines comprising, in combination, a supporting frame mounted upon the machine adjacent the cylinder to be treated and including a stationary shaft extending parallel to the axis of the cylinder, a rotatable shaft carried by bearings on the frame, and also extending parallel to said cylinder, means driven by the press driving means for rotating said shaft, a casing guided along said shafts for'reciprocating movement longitudinally of said cylinder, an opening in the wall of said casing facing the adjacent surface of the cylinder, a rotatable member disposed within the casing, splined to the rotatable shaft, and having a portion projecting through said opening to contact with the cylinder, all whereby the casing and rotatable member may be moved along the cylinder to treat it while the machine is in operation.

2. A device for treating cylinders of offset printing presses or like machines comprising, in combination, a supporting frame mounted upon the machine adjacent the cylinder to be treated and including a stationary shaft extending parallel to the axis of the cylinder, a rotatable shaft carried by bearings on the frame, and also extending parallel to said cylinder, means driven by the press driving means for rotating said shaft, a substantially cylindrical casing guided along said shafts for reciprocating movement longitudinally of said cylinder, an opening in the side of the cylindrical wall of said casing facing the adjacent surface of the cylinder, a rotatable yielding and absorbent member disposed within the easing, splined to the rotatable shaft, and having a portion projecting through said opening to contact with the cylinder, all whereby the casing and rotatable member may be moved along the cylinder to treat it while the machine is in opera tion.

3. A device for treating cylinders of offset printing presses or like machines comprising, in combination, a supporting frame mounted upon the machine adjacent the cylinder to be treated and including a stationary shaft extending parallel to the axis of the cylinder, a rotatable shaft carried by bearings on the frame, and also extending parallel to said cylinder, means driven by the press driving means for rotating said shaft, a casing guided along said shafts for reciprocating movement longitudinally of said cylinder, an opening in the wall of said casing facing the adjacent surface of the cylinder, a rotatable yielding and absorbent member disposed within the casing, splined to the rotatable shaft, andhaving a portion projecting through said .openingto contact with the cylinder, means for introducing treating liquid into said casing and means for removing spent liquid therefrom, all whereby the casing and rotatable member maybe moved along the cylinder to treat it with said liquid while the machine is inoperation'.

4. A device for treating cylinders of offset printing presses or like machines comprising, in combination, a supporting frame mounted upon the-machine adjacent thecylinder to be treated and includin a stationary shaft extending parallel to the axis of the cylinder, a rotatable shaft carried by bearings on the frame, andalso extending parallel to said cylinder, means driven by the press-driving means for rotating said shaft, a casing guided along said shafts for reciprocating movement longitudinally of said cylinder, an opening in the wall of said casing facing the adjacent surface of the cylinder, a rotatable abeorbent member disposed within the casing, spline'd to the rotatable shaft, and having a porprojecting through said opening to contact the cylinder, an opening in an upper portion of said casing, a removable reservoir of treating liqdid having its outlet applied to said opening, a drain opening in the bottom of said casing and. a removable container carried by said casing for receiving spent liquid from said drain opening, all whereby the casing and'rotatable member may be moved along the cylinder to treat it with said liquid while the machine is in operation.

5. In a device of the class described, a frame comprising a stationary sha t, bra kets'fi ed to the ends thereof, a rotatable shaft parallel to said first named shaft and mounted in bearings in said brackets, a gear freely rotatable on said stationary shaft and adapted to mesh with a driving gear on the machine to which" the device is to be applied, a second gear fixed upon said rotatable shaft and meshing with said first named gear, a substantially cylindrical casing having bearing openings in its ends to axially receive said rotatable shaft, an ear projecting from said casing and receiving said first named or stationary shaft to guide said casing therealong, a rotatable cylindrical treating member within said casing and splined on said rotatable shaft, an opening inthe side wall of said casing through which a portion of said rotatable member projects.

6. In a device of the class described, a frame comprising a stationary shaft, brackets fixed to the ends thereof, a rotatable shaft parallel to said first named shaft and mounted in bearings in said brackets, a gear freely rotatable on said stationary shaft and adapted to mesh with a driving gear on the machine to which the device is to be applied, a second gear fixed upon said rotatable shaft and meshing with said first named gear,

a substantially cylindrical casing having bearing openings in its ends to axially receive said rotatable shaft, an ear projecting from said casing and receiving said first named or stationary shaft to guide said casing therealong, a rotatable cylindrical treating member within said casing and splined on said rotatable shaft, an opening in the side wall of said casing through which a portion of said rotatable member projects, said rotatable member comprising a spool,a pile of substantially circular cloth discs on said spool, a pair of flanges on the spool between which the pile of discs is clamped, one of the end walls of said casing being removable for the access to the interior thereof.

' 'In'a'device of'the class described, a supporting frame, a rotary driven shaft carried thereby, a. substantially cylindrical casing guided for movement along. said frame and having bearing, openings in the end' walls thereof to'axially refrom the detachable cover for draining spent liquid from the casing, 7 a 7 "'8. A self contai'ned, printing press cylinder wash-up device forming a'removable attachment for offset printing presses and the like, comprising, in-combination; a frame, a driven rotary treating element or: yielding material carried by said'frame and adapted to contact a press cylinder when the attachment is applied to the press;

driving means for said element on said frame and having a part adapted'to be intermeshed, with a 'moving part of the press when the attachment is applied, a quick detachable connection between said frame and the frame ofthe press, means on the attachment for supplying cylinder treating liquid to the rotarymember and means also carried by the attachment for recovering spent liquid from said rotary member, all whereby the attachment may be readily secured to and recmeyedzfmmtthe nre i t e vicinity f t e cyl nder to be washed and the driven washing element simultaneously placed in and withdrawn from driving relationship with the press 9. A self-contained printing press cylinder wash-up device forming-a removable attachment i'2,893,992 I V foroffset printing presses and the like, comprising, in combination, a frame, a stationary shaft carried by said frame and extending across the frame, and a rotatable shaft carried by bearings 'on the frame and disposedparallel with said stationary shaft, a rotatable cylinder wash-up element guided along said shafts and splined to the rotatable shaft for longitudinal movement with respect thereto, driving means on said frame for said rotatable shaft, said driving means having apart adapted to be intermeshed with a moving part of the presswhen the attachment is applied, and a quick detachable connection between said frame and the frame of the press, all whereby theattachment may be readily secured to and removed from the'press in the vicinity'ofthe cylinder to be washed and the driven washing element simultaneously placed in and withdrawn from drivingrelationship with the press.

'10. A self-contained printing press cylinder wash-up device forming a removable attachment for offset printing presses and the like, compris ing, in combination, a frame comprising a stationary shaft, brackets fixed to the ends of said shaft, a rotatable shaft parallel to said firstnamed shaft andmounted in bearings in said brackets, a gear freely rotatable on said stationary shaft and adapted to be intermeshed with a driving gear on the printing press to which the device is to be applied, a second gear fixed upon said rotatable shaft and meshing with said firstnamed gear, and a rotatable cylinder wash-up member splined upon the rotatable shaft, one of said end brackets beinghollow and providing a housing for the two gears of the'attachment, all

whereby the attachment may be readily secured to and removed from the press. in the vicinity of a the cylinder to be washed and'the driven washing element simultaneously placed in and with- :"3 drawn from driving relationship with the press.

THEODORE JOHN KAUFFV'ELD. 

